When you really think about it, the ‘90s seem to be never-ending. Largely because the decade’s trends are always finding a way to sneak into our current lives.

The plethora of articles naming what 1990s trends are already popular in 2024 and what will be all the rage in 2025 are just proof of that.

For example, Sincerely Elise, an online community for women, foresees the comeback of the ‘90s grunge aesthetic next year. 

“Oversized flannel shirts, band tees, and combat boots will once again be staples in wardrobes, effortlessly mixing comfort with rebellious flair,” it writes. “As sustainability gains traction, thrifted vintage pieces will play a pivotal role in the fashion scene, encouraging eco-friendly practices while embracing nostalgia. Layering will be key, pairing classic staples with contemporary pieces for a balance between edgy and refined.

A Modern Guy’s lifestyle blog also urges anyone who believes that the 1990s were just a brief phase to rethink it. According to them, men’s fashion will be enriched with oversized clothing, colorful windbreakers, graphic tees, and bold jewelry.

Straight-leg jeans, baguette bags, slip dresses and mules were the ‘90s trends that people embraced this year. Quite currently, Gen Z was seen wearing bras on top of their shirt—reviving the “risqué" trend of the ‘90s. 

The year before that, it was cargo pants, flared jeans, biker shorts, and overalls. And the year before that, the emphasis was on the ‘90s leather, long socks and the grunge aesthetic. And the year before that... Alright, I think you get the gist. It's quite obvious that the '90s are constantly coming back and being recycled in new ways.

"Every generation looks back at past trends," says Dr. Renée Middlemost, senior lecturer in Communication and Media. "I believe it has something to do with the way people are watching media these days. With platforms like Netflix around, people recommend shows to each other, and there are less people seeking out new things. Our tastes seem to have narrowed. And with the sharing of videos and content, the online world has made the pop culture loops come around much more quickly than before."

Marjorie Ingall and Mark Oppenheimer in their article Were the 90s the Best Decade Ever? The ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ Debate Continues even argues that we haven’t really evolved since the ‘90s. “Yes, there has been social and political progress since—or rather, there has been some, but we have lately slid backward in some obvious ways,” they write.

This begs the question, “Are we stuck in the ‘90s?” just because it’s an era that is nice to think about, before smartphones took over the world. This will probably be answered by future generations who will be able to observe our behaviors in a wider context. But it’s still interesting to think about. So what are your thoughts on this, dear Pandas? Make sure to leave your insights in the comments below!